About Me

This blog is my blissful journal of happiness. It’s about everything I adore and people I love. Thanks for stopping by. If you would like to write me, please feel free to email me: diana.mieczan@hotmail.comHave a jolly good day!

Oh boy, it's Friday! This morning I woke up thinking it's Thursday
and only realized that it's in fact Friday while reading the morning newspaper.
Ah the little things in life! Anyway, what are you up to this weekend? Balazs
and I are on a gift buying mission, so this weekend will be all about getting a
few little gems around the city, window shopping and eating ricotta-spinach
dumplings (recipe next week). Speaking of gift giving, if by any chance you
missed our gift guides so far, you can catch on all the gems here. Also, as
always here are a few fun links for you to check out over this cold November
weekend. Enjoy, loves!

Have you ever made your own herbal or fruit tea? Recently
Balazs and I were invited to our friend’s house for a casual dinner party. The
wonderful surprise was that Tom welcomed everyone with a glass of homemade hot
(since it’s super cold already) winter tea. It was such a wonderful gesture! It
instantly made everybody feel at ease and since the mix itself smelled divine,
it created a wonderful conversation starter.

Well, after the party was over I
emailed him to ask for the recipe and I found out that it is actually a soothing
mix of apples, lemon, ginger, dates and honey. It’s perfect as a winter drink
and it’s great in fighting winter cold as well. Win-win!

Here is the full how to if you fancy trying it yourself or treating
your guests to something delicious this festive season:

Pour 4.5 liters of water, 1 cup of sliced ginger, 1 cup of
dried dates, 4 sliced apples in a large pot and let it simmer for 2 hours.
Strain and serve hot, warm or on ice with a bit of honey for the sweetness and a slice
of lemon for the extra vitamin kick. Ta dah!

To continue with the hunt for the perfect gift this festive
season, today I'd like to share a few fun gems for a dapper gent as it's
Balazs 38th birthday.

So without further ado, here are 14 gent-approved-gems
for your foxy husband, James Bond-like father, stylish grandpa, dapper
boyfriend or even the swoonworthy guy that lives on the 6th floor and just
invited you for his Christmas party next week. Yay! All those guys in your life that love sporting glasses, have messy yet so stylish hair, like experimenting with a beard or a stash to keep things interesting and think that you're the most foxy or sweet girl around!

Here we go:

1.This super unique coffee mill for his morning cuppa ($70). Bonus for us, ladies: a man who smells of cologne-and-coffee-mix is simply irresistible:).

2. Only a dapper can pull off this New York City made slim chambray tie ($75). It's a true treat that he will enjoy forever + boys treat their ties like girls cherish their scraves.

3. A brilliant book: The Moustache Grower's Guide ($9.95) to help him achieve the stash of his dreams and to tell him how proud you are that he is taking part in the Movember movement each year (even though he only does it for you).

Have you ever been to Norway? A few days ago Jamie posted
about her recent trip there and ever since then I can not stop thinking about Bergen. It's a city in Norway that in
Dutch means mountains. During this time of the year the whole place is foggy, moody,
calm and dark - very mythical. The only thing I want to do right now is
to fly there and spend countless days hiking all bundled up in
a cozy scarf, an itchy hat and tons of layers. I would also love to spend foggy mornings
by the water while drinking coffee from a thermos and hopefully (fingers
crossed) have a chance to spot red deers that naughtily sneak around
residential areas to nibble on flowers and apples. Le sigh.

P.P.S: And if you love all things Scandinavia, you should check out Marie Forsberg on Instagram. She lives on the Northen Isle and takes the most amazing photos of her island. I am hooked! (Thanks, Patricia)

Today’s giveaway is from Julie Sinden Handmade, a chic
and cozy Toronto based hat and scarf shop run by an award winning textile
artist, Julie. The main fabric she uses for her line is boiled wool, which is super
warm, durable and oh-so elegant.

Today,
Julie is offering one lucky person a chance to win this ribbon hat (value $55).
Oh la la, isn't that amazing? I guarantee that as soon as you put on this beauty, it will make you feel like a true Parisian strolling down the little
twinkling alleys of Montmarte. I simply adore the 1920s flapperesque vibe of
it and paired up with a scarf and a snazzy coat, it makes for a perfectly sassy winter uniform.

For a chance to win you should be a follower of exPress-o + like Julie Sinden's Facebook page. Also, please visit Julie Sinden shop and tell us which piece is your favourite from the shop. As always the giveaway is open worldwide. The winner will be chosen at random on Sunday night. Good luck! xo

What’s your festive nail polish of choice this year? Last
night I treated myself to a quick manicure on my way home from a super exhausting
meeting. I wasn't sure what shade I'd like to try so I simply asked for a
darker-moodier colour. The lovely lady transformed my boring nails into festive
ruby fruit goodness. It's official: ruby fruit by Max Factor is my guilty and
oh-so foxy Christmas pleasure. J'adore! What shade are you wearing
right now? xo

Have you seen
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World? What did you think? It's a very new film that we watched over the Thanksgiving
weekend. It's one of those movies that 2 minutes into it, you can not help but
fall utterly and completely in love with it. Even though Steve Carell and Keira Knightley are the worst match on paper, in the movie they just work like butter
and bread - smooth, fulfilling and making you crave for more. It’s a story of
two people who lived in the same building for the past few years but never
before spoke to each other till the day the whole world got the news that it’s
ending. His wife left him, and Keira's
character was stuck in a hopeless relationship...and the only thing they wanted
was to spend the last days with someone they truly cared about. It's a heartfelt,
beautiful, sweet film when you just need a bit of romance, a dash of hope and a
whole lot of wonderful. Sounds like a film for you?

Yup, it's this time of the year again and I must say, that
just the thought of shopping for Christmas gifts no matter how chaotic it can get, it puts a smile on my face. How do you feel? Have you started your gift spotting
already? I just love the feeling when someone I love opens a gift I chose and their face lights up. Priceless!

Well, if you’re (by any chance) still undecided on what to
get your dapper husband, foxy friend, adorable niece, goddess of mom, sweet grandparents or treat your next desk work-friend to something special, then
you are in luck! For the next few weeks all the way to Christmas I'll be
posting gift ideas for all budgets, ages and all different interests.

So today let's start with 14 gems simply made for a
friend/sister/co-worker/aunt/niece or even your next door neighbour who loves
all things French, wears a beret, lipstick, rosy cheeks, ballerinas, messy buns and knows a thing or
two about layering. (wink).

Here we go:

1. A set of three Loccitane almond soaps ($15) so she can keep her skin all smooth and delicate during winter gloominess. (The smell is irresistible as well).

2.Paris in Color, ($13.57) the most dreamy coffee table book with tons of photos of the most romantic city in the world. Perfect for the quiet candle-lit evenings on the sofa.

3. Sassy winter hat with a Parisian twist ($60) to make her feel oh-so-French.

4. The wooden dog ($128) just so she can think of you each time she spots it on her desk.

7.I Know How To Cook ($19.16) for the French goddess at heart, so she can whip up a croque monsier like nobody's business.8. Treat her to a real French delicacy with this French butter: Beurre Bretagne butter with Fleur Guerande. Oh yum and so perfect for mornings with croissants.

Are you still on a pumpkin kick like me? I’ve been enjoying
it to the fullest this season in pies, coffee, salads and of course, soups. A
few days before Thanksgiving I spotted a Hokkaido Japanese pumpkin in the Farmers' Market so I got it to see if I can use it for our festive soup. It was a hit!
The awesome part about this little beauty is that you don’t have to peel it so
it saves you tons of time and energy. It has the most wonderful chestnut undertone
and mixed with a bit of chilli and topped off with honey roasted apples, it makes
for a mouth-watering combination. And let’s face it, what’s better on a cold November evening
than a bowl of a steamy soup on a sofa and under a blanket!

Wash, peel
and chop celeriac, carrots and onions, pumpkin and apple. Split the chilli open
and remove the seeds. In a soup pot, heat up oil and add all of the vegetables
and sauté for 5-6 minutes. Next, add the chicken broth and let it simmer until
the vegetables get tender, approximately 25-30 min. In the meantime, in a skillet
roast pumpkin seeds, until they appear golden and are popping. Remove and set aside. Next, add butter to the skillet along with the apples boats and honey.
Sauté for about 4 minutes on medium heat or until the apples are tender but
with a slightly crispy middle and a beautiful glow. Set your apples and pumpkin
seeds aside. Next, use a blender to blend the soup into a creamy smooth texture.
Add more broth if it is too thick. Add the apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper and
cream. Let it simmer for additional 2-3 minutes before serving. Serve the soup
with the honey apples and pumpkin seeds on top! Ta dah.

Loves, do you eat soups weekly? My dad used to cook soups daily when I was little and back then I wasn’t fond of them but now I can not get enough of their creamy and soothing taste. You?

Today’s giveaway is from the Boutique Minimaliste, a stunning Lisbon
based handmade jewelry shop run by the wonderful jewelry designer, Marta. Her
line is inspired by ancient Geek and Roman history and culture. Her designs
have a beautifully unique vibe and a minimalistic feel that will make you feel elegant no
matter what you wear.

Today, Marta is offering one lucky person a chance to win a pair of those matte black dipped triangle earrings. Aren't they dandy? They would make a stylish and sassy everyday piece or a spot-on Christmas gift for your fashion-loving friend or a snazzy sister-in-law:) Psst: also, this necklace makes me swoon and this is the sweetest bracelet, like...ever!
For a chance to win you should be a follower of exPress-o, please visit Boutique Minimaliste and tell us which piece is your favourite from the shop. As always the giveaway is open worldwide. The winner will be chosen at random on Friday. Good luck! xo

Last night after eating way too much for the past three days, Balazs and I
spent the evening watching reruns of Friends and laughing silly till the night.
One of the episodes we watched was when
Joey and Chandler had a huge argument over who's eggs Chandler likes more:
a-la Joey (white bread with the hole in the middle) or a-la Eddie (new roommate
scrambled eggs). Remember? According to Joey, every single person in the world has one kind of eggs made by one particular person they like best! Somehow eggs are always very defining in
relationships, aren't they? Some of my friends have a whole relationship theory behind eggs :)

Happy and cozy Thanksgiving, loves! How are you spending today? I woke up bright and early to start on this deep-dish pie. Luckily we are not in charge of the turkey:). Today we are meeting a bunch of friends and their adorable kiddos for a big feast and tomorrow everyone is coming over to our place for more celebration (errr...drinking wine). We are planning to play some board games, listen to jazz, eat eat eat and watch a few movies. How about you?

If you are in a post-reading-type-of-mood in the next few days, please feel free to browse through exPress-o! Here are a few scrumptious last minute pie ideas and if you're looking for tricks to stress-free dinner tonight, have a look here. Oh, and don't forget to make this panini on Friday. It really is the best thing after Thanksgiving!

And here are a few cool discount details for your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping fun!
- I Adorn U: 15% off with the code: expressoreader and 10% with the code: blackfri10
- Crave Jewelry Design: 15% off on jewelry with the code: etsyholidaysale
- Elisabeth Michael: up to 60% off
- ShopCuffs: up to 25%, 30% and 35% off if you spend $50+, $75+, $100+ with the codes: blackout50, blackout75 and blackout100
- Michelle Starbuck Designs: 20% off with the code: handmadeholidays
- Rabbit Foot Fern: 15% off with the code: handturkey

Loves, I'll see you all Monday morning (miss you already). xo

P.S: And speaking of wine, here are two handy little tips on saving leftover wine (if you happen not to drink it all) and last minute winechilling.
P.P.S: If you fancy a bit of chit-chat, you can always catch me on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Today’s giveaway is from UncommonGoods, a fantastic online marketplace
offering tons of amazing, creative, unique and very affordable products. If you are
looking for ideas for a special gift, creative design or simply want to treat
yourself to something cool - this is the place for you! I know I'll do my
Christmas shopping there :) Plus, they are commited to not sell products that harm humans or animals. Bravo!

Today, UncommonGoods is
offering one lucky person a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to their
online shop. Isn't that awesome? I'd choose this stylish corkcicle for Balazs, those vases for
my mom and this whiskey stones set for Balazs' dad. Plus, a little cheese board treat for myself. For more of their Christmas gift ideas click here and here for some adorable gems for stocking stuffers.For a chance to win you should be a follower of exPress-o, please visit UncommonGoods and tell us what would you choose. As always the giveaway is open worldwide. The winner will be chosen at random on Sunday night. Good luck! xo

Have you ever been to Paris during the Holiday season? Would you like to go? Well, a few wonderful readers asked me to put together a little guide for non-turistic things you can do and places you can visit during the winter. So, since I am madly in love with the City of Light and we have been there a few times already, I put together a list of nine things I'd be doing there if I could fit in a short Christmas trip. Le sigh!

Here it is:
1. It's always a good idea to rent a flat or home-swap instead of staying in a hotel. This way you can really experience the feel of the city with its easy-going-approach. Like in the morning popping down to pick up a few freshly made croissants and pastries for breakfast. Make sure to enjoy the long lines for baguettes and the morning chatter. (Here is a wonderful video of what to buy and make sure to break this baguette rule - just because!)
2. Treat yourself to a little river bank picnic on Île Saint-Louis. It's the perfect place for a cozy, quiet and serene time out.
3. If you fancy re-living a scene from Midnight in Paris then visit Place Dauphine. It's a hidden little square and the place where they filmed the romantic night stroll scene. Get a coffee and enjoy the feel of it all:)
4. Grab a cuppa and climb up the Arc de Triomphe. The combination of walking, coffee and the breathtaking views will warm you right up!
5. Make a quick stop to Androuet Fromagerie aka the best cheese shop in France! It's a place that cheese-lovers will not want to leave. Androuet selects and matures all the handcrafted, farm and raw cheeses.
6. And when it gets darker, take a moody stroll down Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Hold hands with your love and enjoy a few stolen smooches.
7. The same evening stumble upon one of the few Noel á Paris aka Christmas markets that are glowing around the city. Grab a nutella crêpes and a cup of hot wine.
8. Of course your stay wouldn't be complete without visiting the Pont des Arts - the lovers bridge. It oozes romance on every possible level. The drill for lovers is to fasten a padlock to the railings and then toss the key into the Seine river below, symbolizing their eternal love.
9. And the last, but certainly not least on my list is people watching. Paris was made for it with all those amazing cafés and huge windows. It's truly the best way to get to know the city even if only through the café window.

Whether you're hosting Thanksgiving this year or crashing someone
else's celebrations, there are 6 essential rules to your turkey day perfection.
So without further ado, I present you the perfect mix of Thanksgiving
awesomeness:

1. As Marie learned, tofu turkey is not a way to go for Thanksgiving. It jiggles too much:).

My darlings, do you find toffee irresistible? If so, oh boy, look what I made
- crumbly toffee! After such a wonderful caramel candy feedback, I've got tons
of requests for a crumbly version of it. So here it is in all its glory,
sweetness and scrumptiousness.

As previously, it's super easy to make as the recipe only requires three ingredients
and it makes for a perfect dinner-party gift. (That is if you don't eat it yourself).

Psst: Balazs was in heaven for the past two weeks while I was tweaking the
recipe. I probably made close to 100 pieces and like a trooper, he ate them all
- giggle.

* 2 cups sugar
* 2 cups whole milk (3% - 3.3%)
* 85 grams unsalted butterFirst, place baking paper in a shallow baking pan and
leave it for later. Next pour milk and sugar into a cooking pan and cook it on low heat while stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes. From that point on,
you *must* stir all the time as you don’t want the mix to burn. About 30 minutes
into the cooking time or as soon as your sugar-milk mix is getting thicker and becomes
darker (coffee colour), add the butter and continue mixing for an additional 10
minutes. If you want to test if your toffee is ready, just scoop a bit of the
mix onto a spoon and let it rest for about a minute. If it becomes solid quickly,
you are ready. Transfer your mix into the pre-prepared baking pan and let it
cool off for about 5 minutes before cutting it into small pieces and wrapping
them in candy wrappings.Important note: If you want the toffee to be gooey inside
and crumbly outside cut the overall cooking time to 35-40 min instead of 50
minutes. 50 minutes cooking time is for inside-out crumbly toffee. Ta dah!

Yup, those are actually oil paintings by the incredibly talented artist, Gregory Thielker. Mind blowing, aren’t they? In this series he magically takes us to the exact time and place of driving
a car on a gloomy, rainy day. We have all done it. He wants us to relive the two
main feeling every person has during those car rides: the warm fuzzy comforting
feeling of being safe and dry and the other one, of struggle and uncertainty to
navigate the car in such bad weather conditions.

I could spend all day
looking at those pieces of art. Genius, isn’t it? xo